OBJECTIVES: To assess tuberculosis (TB) knowledge, attitudes and health-seeking behaviour to inform the design of communication and social mobilisation interventions. SETTING: Iganga/Mayuge Demographic Surveillance Site, Uganda. DESIGN: Between June and July 2008, 18 focus group discussions and 12 key informant interviews were conducted, including parents of infants and adolescents and key informant interviews with community leaders, traditional healers and patients with TB. RESULTS: People viewed TB as contagious, but not necessarily an airborne pathogen. Popular TB aetiologies included sharing utensils, heavy labour, smoking, bewitchment and hereditary transmission. TB patients were perceived to seek care late or to avoid care. Combining care from traditional healers and the biomedical system was common. Poverty, drug stock-outs, fear of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and length of TB treatment negatively affect health-seeking behaviour. Stigma and avoidance of persons with TB often reflects an assumption of HIV co-infection. CONCLUSION: The community's concerns about pill burden, quality of care, financial barriers, TB aetiology, stigma and preference for pluralistic care need to be addressed to improve early detection. Health education messages should emphasise the curability of TB, the feasibility of treatment and the engagement of traditional healers as partners in identifying cases and facilitating adherence to treatment.
OBJECTIVES: To assess tuberculosis (TB) knowledge, attitudes and health-seeking behaviour to inform the design of communication and social mobilisation interventions. SETTING: Iganga/Mayuge Demographic Surveillance Site, Uganda. DESIGN: Between June and July 2008, 18 focus group discussions and 12 key informant interviews were conducted, including parents of infants and adolescents and key informant interviews with community leaders, traditional healers and patients with TB. RESULTS:People viewed TB as contagious, but not necessarily an airborne pathogen. Popular TB aetiologies included sharing utensils, heavy labour, smoking, bewitchment and hereditary transmission. TB patients were perceived to seek care late or to avoid care. Combining care from traditional healers and the biomedical system was common. Poverty, drug stock-outs, fear of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) testing and length of TB treatment negatively affect health-seeking behaviour. Stigma and avoidance of persons with TB often reflects an assumption of HIV co-infection. CONCLUSION: The community's concerns about pill burden, quality of care, financial barriers, TB aetiology, stigma and preference for pluralistic care need to be addressed to improve early detection. Health education messages should emphasise the curability of TB, the feasibility of treatment and the engagement of traditional healers as partners in identifying cases and facilitating adherence to treatment.
Authors: S N Mehta; M Murrill; N Suryavanshi; R Bhosale; S Naik; N Patil; A Gupta; J Mathad; R Shivakoti; M Alexander Journal: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis Date: 2021-02-01 Impact factor: 2.373
Authors: Amos Deogratius Mwaka; Elialilia S Okello; Catherine Abbo; Francis Okot Odwong; Willy Olango; John Wilson Etolu; Rachel Oriyabuzu; David Kitara Lagoro; Byamah Brian Mutamba; Richard Idro; Bernard Toliva Opar; Jane Ruth Aceng; Assuman Lukwago; Stella Neema Journal: BMC Res Notes Date: 2015-08-29
Authors: Gabriela Tavares Magnabosco; Lívia Maria Lopes; Rubia Laine de Paula Andrade; Maria Eugênia Firmino Brunello; Aline Aparecida Monroe; Tereza Cristina Scatena Villa Journal: Rev Lat Am Enfermagem Date: 2016-09-09
Authors: Gabriel Chamie; Dalsone Kwarisiima; Tamara D Clark; Jane Kabami; Vivek Jain; Elvin Geng; Maya L Petersen; Harsha Thirumurthy; Moses R Kamya; Diane V Havlir; Edwin D Charlebois Journal: PLoS One Date: 2012-08-20 Impact factor: 3.240